Gene testing for employment

Recent years have seen gene technology advance in great strides with an exponential increase in the number of procedures for refined tests available for detecting genes that increase the probability of terminal diseases (Mainsbridge, 2002).The greatest huddle to be conquered as we head into the year 2030 and beyond is the question of professional ethical behavior. Advancements in science happen to have the effect of a double edged sword. If technological advancements are used to follow the wrong and unintended objectives as is projected in Hollywood, it is bound to cause nothing but devastate human development which has taken place over millenniums as we know it, more so an obliteration of basic rights and freedoms through genetic discrimination as a result of result from genetic test being positive as unto undesirable genes. Potentially damaging eventualities such as these cannot be overlooked (Mainsbridge, 2002).The labor market, insurance industry and service provision industries are to be viewed as potential abusers of such technology as they strive to make profits disregarding the core aspects of what is being human.

In 1990 the Human Genome project commenced as he an international project for scientific research with the aim mapping of the 23 chromosomes to sequentially detail three billion nucleotide bases constitute human genome. Over the years that followed, up to 99% of the project has been completed. This has been instrumental in the matching of a large proportion of genes that are responsible for a number of diseases motivating researchers to develop more advanced tests and it is projected that by 2030 the project would have reached unforeseen dimensions.

To minimize the cost related to cases of absenteeism, entitlements for sick leave and associated cost for staff turnovers serves as an incentive for employers to employ the use of gene test on existing and potential employees. This will bear hard down on individuals marked to have undesirable genes (Mainsbridge, 2002). However, it is argued that gene test will provide employers with options to safeguard other employees and be able to place the marked employee at workstation conducive to them. This is itself what I being avoided by researchers.

The American Management Association is on record as saying 53% of its members have conducted gene test on its members while 15% plan to carry out these tests by 2000. There is empirical evidence in the United States as to genetic discrimination in the work place. In 1996 surveys finances by (Mainsbridge, 2002) the HGP sampled members of support groups for persons with undesirable genes encountering difficulties with attaining adequate insurance and employment. 13% said this led to job discrimination, while in a group of 550 people were identified as to have responded that they suffered being denied employment and insurance on the basis of their likelihood of getting diseased being high.

Sufficient Legislation is necessary to address all issues that will promote discrimination of any form from the knowledge of a person genome reports. This will serve to protect humanity from civil rights infringements and freedom of rights and more so uphold human dignity (Human Genome Program, 2008).

References

Mainsbridge, A. (2002). Employers and genetic information: A new frontier for discrimination. Macquarie Law Journal. Retrieved March16, 2011, from

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/MqLJ/2002/3.html

Human Genome Program. (2008, September 16). Recommendations for Future Legislation. Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). Retrieved March16, 2011, from, http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/legislat.shtml

Norman, B. (2009, April 10). What is biopsychology? Helium, Inc. Retrieved March16, 2011, from, http://www.helium.com/items/1409756-applications-of-biopsychology